Iím a sports product designer from Brighton, UK and Iím looking into designing a new set of ski/snowboard goggles.

These new goggles are meant to inflict a feeling of fear and intimidation into the eyes of others on the slope (opponents) and give the users themselves an instant confidence boost and feeling of superiority.

What are the most intimidating and fearsome goggles you have come across? Also what would you be intimidated by in a pair of goggles?

but surely pro snowboarders are merely aspirational product placement 'cat walk' (aka half pipe) models, where the things they wear are chosen and therefore offered up as being products for (their salary paying) public no?

but your underlying ambition is interesting.... have you found evidence to suggest that what pro riders wear installs a confidence in their ability that isn't already there?

with haakonsen's mantra of 'snowboarding is 3% skill and 97% confidence' what the hell difference would a pair of goggles actually make?

__________________Just coz you don't understand it
Doesn't mean it makes no sense!

I am not going to question motives and say that I think they must surely make it so the other person cannot see their eyes. Also, the color of the lens would be important so as to have a full effect. Other than that, I am not sure...

In terms of lens colour, it would be difficult to tint it to make it look "aggressive" just because you have to take snow conditions into consideration. If you were to use a dark tinted lens on a bluebird day, you would be able to get away with it, but to use a dark lens in flat light would just be asking for trouble. I'd also dare to say that how "aggressive" a goggle looks on someone depends on the shape of the person's face as well. IE: the OTG's my bro and I use both function well for us, but in-terms of fashion, he looks good while I look st00pid wearing them.

Imo, it's completely pointless to focus on the fashion aspect of snowboarding, and when you're designing goggles, stick to the function aspect of stuff...

In terms of lens colour, it would be difficult to tint it to make it look "aggressive" just because you have to take snow conditions into consideration. If you were to use a dark tinted lens on a bluebird day, you would be able to get away with it, but to use a dark lens in flat light would just be asking for trouble. I'd also dare to say that how "aggressive" a goggle looks on someone depends on the shape of the person's face as well. IE: the OTG's my bro and I use both function well for us, but in-terms of fashion, he looks good while I look st00pid wearing them.

Imo, it's completely pointless to focus on the fashion aspect of snowboarding, and when you're designing goggles, stick to the function aspect of stuff...

You should take a page from Scott Goggles and incorporate holograms of barbwire and skulls into the goggle lens only maybe you could use a picture of a naked George Bush. That would intimidate the hell out of me.

goggles have gotten to the point where function has little to do with it these days, most of them will do the job. so it has become a fashion accessory. in terms of mean looking goggles i'd say that was what dragon was trying to achieve with the foil goggle, but that was quite unsuccessful and has already stopped production.

I wasn't intending on designing a pair of ridiculous looking goggles, with missiles attached to them.
The intention was more to integrate psychology of the mind into the design & appearance of the goggles. i.e. colour psychology - making you feel more aggressive and confident, the sensation of correct fit & feel - to make them feel part of your body and not an obtrusive piece of gear. Therefore confidence enhancing. Formation of shapes etc

All these factors are proven ways of boosting performance not only in sport. maybe it's something that people take for granted in most products?

I was just wanting your further opinions on how you feel in performance enhancing techniques, if you knew of any?